Warming Up Your Car

[saleen]

I never warm my car as such, but in saying that, I don't start and go. I think cars these days are designed to be just started and driven but if you've got the time to warm it up, I don't see the harm provided its not left idling excessively, that can cause carbon build-up especially while its in choke mode where the fuel mixture is richer.

[XR6TK1W1]

Here my view on warming up. The quicker the engine warms up the quicker the oil is at temp, the less damage your engine recieves. My view is get that oil up to temp asap but not buy the gas peddle, just drive it gentley. Idling is not good for the engine although most of you guys only do it for a short time. And depending on your situation buy the time you back out etc of the driveway and sit idling waiting to get through the first intersection the motor should be getting warm. Even with motorway driving these things are sitting only about 2thou rmp anyways, not exactly thrashing it. And for the turbo timers this is what im unsure of. Ford say its ok not to have one, and that the are oil fed and intercooled. I think I will just idle it enough to get clear oil around the bearings and leave it at that. PS these XR6T's just keep getting better the more the wear in :D

[turb06]

Spoke to a guy from dynamic turbos that comes into work, he said every turbo should be cooled no matter what car, truck, crane or boat it may be on, he also said that the fitting of turbo timers is a waste of money for any kind of turbo application especially an oil cooled one as in the xr6. Letting it idle for 30 - 60 seconds depending on how hard it has been driven will help with the turbos longevity. It would be a wise move to cool these things down as most turbo charger problems wont start until after the waranty period has ended.

[XR6TK1W1]

Sounds like good advice turb06, just have to listern to the end of the song before shutting down I guess.

[NT TURBO]

Actually the Ford Manual states that it's not necessary to warm the car up but I do anyway, don't no why when I'm in the NT B)

[Robbo]

I usually drive the car out of the driveway and down the road virtually at an idle. This gives me about 60 seconds or so to warm up. Same thing as I get to my destination. I just slow down for a little bit. If I feel I've driven the car a little hard, I give it about 30 seconds on idle before I shut down the engine. I'm not too keen on getting a turbo timer.

[DavoWA]

Oh goody - another oil related question. Just up my alley.

Warming up IS a good idea because most engine oils use an additive (as part of the proper recipe) called ZDDP. (Zinc Dialkyl-DithioPhosphate for those who really want to know)

This additive is temperature activated, and does NOT work below about 70-75 degrees Celcius. Hence if you drive nice and easy to start with, you are not putting huge loads on any mechanical components and running the risk of "breaking through" the oil film.

It is when you "break through" the oil film that you will need the ZDDP to work, and if the oil is not up to temperature, it won't be there for you. This will then increase the wear rate and you will get a lot less kms until some sort of rebuild might be necessary.

Ever wondered why cabs get 1,000,000 plus kms with monotonous regularity??

It is because the little buggers very seldom get cold. They are always running.

There are some products on the market that get around this problem by other chemical means.

Someone in one thread mentioned Castrol Magnatec. This product is one of those that uses a different non temperature related additive system.

[Gareth]

Just drive the car very sedately till it warms up. No need to idle it and waste fuel.

[Guest Kvntoday]

Yep , I think that a minute or so warming up is a good idea, I had to do this with my Vx2 SS Expensive Daewoo to wait until the V8 stopped Knocking ???? (engine replaced at 18,000km) in the Holden .

Love my new XR6T auto

[CJF077]

I usually dont warm it up.. but then i dont hammer is straight away after i turn it on..